All posts by Heart2Heart

I’m like the Dept for Tourism (haha)

Hot Spring Resort capital of the Philippines!   Pansol, Laguna. Maybe there are a thousand already. This was just one area ! #pansol #h2honsen#h2hlaguna #itsmorefuninthephilippines

I stopped by on the way home to check out @solyvientohotelsandresorts recommended by my AC batchmate Ada @adadabadoo who lives in Laguna. It has a beautiful view and okay facilities but they are closed on week days which is the days i like to go so there’s not much people. In fact the scene was how i would have wanted it to be – No one but me and having the resort to myself 🙂

These resorts ( pansol resorts ) are really used by groups for their family or barkada outing or company outing so they are geared for that market. They offer cabanas, tables etc and ofcourse rooms.

They have huts you can rent and these ones have a nice view of the forest
I guess i am a different market, I just look for the hot spring and for the day. There are 2 hot spring pools here and they look ok.
The only thing open here daily is Pancake House @pancakehouseph  Well atleast i know there’s a pancake house around the area yay  #solyviento #h2hspa #h2honsen#h2hlagunaI think there should really be rules on attire in every resort so this is good

 Click below to go to their website for more info

 I ate lunch in between dips.  They have a restaurant in Makiling onsen.  I also wanted to support their business so I tried it

 Previous entry:  Makiling Onsen Hotel January 22, 2018 I ate at 11 am so I was the only one 🙂   I wanted yakiniku style so i ate inside one of the yakiniku rooms Beef Karubi 100 grams – a bit too fatty for me but it tasted ok.  I dipped it in the sauce before cooking it Pork Karubi 100 grams – fatty of course haha but it was okay – i just added salt and pepper – yum I definitely could not finish that so I called my driver Roy to eat haha!!

 I tried out another hot spring. I googled “onsen” and found this. Makiling Onsen Hotel @makilingonsenhotel also in pansol. It’s a few meters further down/ away from 88 Hotspring resort. I find it to be a rare offering and the most sanitary because you have your own private onsen and the natural spring water is filled up only if you will book the room ( advanced notice of 30 mins -an hour.) It’s P 300.00 per person ( for 3 hours use) and since i was only 1 i had it all to myself.  The water just flows and it drains so it is always new water flowing. It’s continuous for 3 hours. They said the water doesn’t go to waste because they use it for plants etc. I also like them because they are conscious about onsen etiquette especially about taking a bath before going in. This was my schedule. It’s best to make the most and try to dip in the onsen as many times as you can

 710am Take off from Makati
830am Arrive in onsen
910am 15 mins onsen
930am-1030am massage
1040am-1050am 10 mins onsen
1050am-1130am lunch
1130am onsen 15 mins
12 noon checkout

 #makilingonsenhotel #lagunahotspring#h2hspa #h2honsen #h2hlaguna

 Look for Kath and/or Candy.  Before coming I was communicating with Kath via Facebook messenger.  I had warned her that I was coming the day before   The first thing you see on the left is the swimming pool 🙂   Then you can pass this way to go to the onsenOnsen rooms
 This was where they assigned me   There is a small air-conditioned room.  I brought my yaya with me to accompany me and make sure she is there in case i faint haha!!  It’s just always good to have a companion when doing the onsen or hot bath.     Then a Japanese curtain to enter the onsen They give you a plastic container with 2 towels.  I also brought my own towels.  They provide toiletries for taking a bath, but again I brought my own It took around 20-30 minutes to fill the onsen. You can call in advance to prepare and open the aircon etc.  Other onsen rooms.  I took a tour while waiting for the onsen to be filled  There is a painting of Mt. Fuji in all the onsens 🙂    Another onsen which is bigger is by the garage  Then there is another onsen with a bedroom.  You can opt to get this if you want to lie down or just have your own private room
Then at the back there are 3 more rooms which have onsens inside
 They told me the last room is the most popular because it has the strongest aircon 🙂 You can watch TV 🙂
 Have tea Japanese style 🙂 There is another swimming pool at the back  Then they toured me around the rooms.  The owner is Filipina but just loves Japanese anything and i noticed she likes putting signs and quotes around the place 🙂  I forgot what room this is but each room has a tatami dining table 🙂 
Leads to the balcony   Another room  with a heart pillow 🙂  More rooms I only saw one since the others were occupied.  This was not used because the bed was used in another room
 She took me to the spa  Another room across the spa

Click below to go to their Facebook page

Makiling Onsen Hotel, Los Banos Laguna. 1,896 likes · 15 talking about this. Find out one of the reasons why you will need to stay with us……..

As soon as we arrived from Japan, i wanted to continue my onsen experience so I asked Tita Amy Yap for a recommendation and she pointed me to this Korean owned resort in Laguna. @88hotspring The hot spring capital of the Philippines – Pansol, Laguna- is only an hour away ( no traffic) from makatiThey are opening this soon!!! WOW!I think it’s the best in the area – it’s so clean and the standards are above average. I’m not familiar with hot springs resorts but based on my research online this is so far my best.88 Hot Spring Resort has
4 big warm and cold spring swimming pools
4 mid swimming pools, 3 jaccuzis, 2 slides
4 male/female locker (500ea)
2 live band, 2 mini bar
1 big lake , 2 swan boat
1 korean restaurant, 1 massage spa
10 Standard Room / 5 bamboo deluxe / 8 bamboo suite
7 pension house / 3 executive room / 1 nipa hut
1 clubhouse which can use as conference room

They charge P600 per head for day rate ( since i just look for hot spring use) compared to others that charge P50.00 to P100.00. The P 600.00 includes use of the locker room.  They give you a locker key which you can wear like a bracelet and you can charge everything to that number in your key and pay before leaving and when you check out.  I recommend that you bring your own towels and toiletries.The huts 🙂 with swings 🙂and the pools.  I went on a weekday and had the place all to myself. So it’s perfect.  I’m so glad we have hot springs in the Philippines  #lagunahotspring #88hotspringresort#itsmorefuninthephilippines #h2hspa#h2hlaguna #h2honsenThis is my favourite pool – all the way in the end I wish they had a notice or sign to remind people to hydrate and drink water before going in the pool so they don’t get dehydrated from the heat. So I bring bottled water ( you can buy there ) or you can bring your thermos or S’well 🙂  with water.    I sometimes see some more senior people going and I tell them because I worry they might faint or something.  I also recommend that if it is your first time to bring a companion with you Because it is by the mountain 🙂  and it is more peaceful- though there is construction ongoing in the lake and depends if there are people in the garden  It is my favourite also because it is beside Mama Mary.  I have been to 2 places where I saw Mama Mary beside the hot springs.  Maybe because they relate the miraculous effects of the hot spring 🙂 as to how miraculous Mama Mary is 🙂   And there is a swing hut beside it 🙂 I rest here in between dips.  It is so windy and so peaceful with the sound of spring water falling from the fallsIt is also right beside the spa! 🙂  They have a spa ( average but for sure better than others in the area) so because you cannot stay straight in the hot springs ( 10-15 mins per dip), you can have a massage in between dips. This hot spring pool is nearer the entrance but a bit busy most of the time.  DO NOT USE THE MIDDLE POOL. ( There should be signs )
There are 2 levels here but i hardly go to the upper level because you have to climb up these stairs haha!!!
Awww… heart shaped plant 🙂
 What a view from upstairs!  Recreation centre where they have receptions and live band performances  Facing this poolThere are severe sensual sculptures around the resort 🙂
There is a cottage upstairs which looks very private so maybe this will make a good accommodation – it is near a pool and it is a big cottage  Past it are stairs going down They have a korean/Filipino restaurant which is a good day thing for me in between dips.  The dish I had was beef bulgogi – it was okay.  I want to support them too so they can continue to operate 🙂 for a long time

Click below to go to their website

I saw a Korean restaurant on my way out across the street